Central Coast Mariners vs Sydney Prediction & Betting Tips - A-League

Prediction published on 17/05/2024, 21:22  by Ian John in Football Predictions

Sydney FC head into the second leg of their A-League Championship semi-final trailing Central Coast Mariners 2-1 from the first. In an explosive game, Sydney had led before the Mariners struck back with goals on either side of halftime to go 2-1 up. Sydney then saw two players, Jack Rodwell and Corey Hollman, sent off, meaning both will be suspended for this crucial second leg. Despite beating Mariners in both their A-League regular season games this season, Sydney could have a better away record, winning just four of 14 on the road this season. That is not an excellent record to take into a game against a Mariners team that has won ten of their last 11 games, conceding just five goals across all those matches.

If Mariners’ manager Mark Jackson has one regret from the semi-final first-leg tie, it may be that his team didn’t press home their one and then two-man advantage in that final half hour of the game. Had they scored a third goal, this tie would likely already be over. The home side will also be wary that Sydney FC have beaten them home and away this season. A fact that made last weekend’s win in Sydney all the sweeter for Coasties fans. Central Coast Mariners have finished top of the A-League table in both the past two seasons, winning the A-League Championship in 2023 and they are on course to repeat that feat if they can progress from this semi-final and then beat either Melbourne Victory or Wellington Phoenix in the Grand Final.